Rigid airship with separate gas cells



Aug. 13, 1929. H. ECKENER RIGID AIRSHIP WITH SEPARATE GAS CELLS Filed Nov. 27. 1922 JNVENTR'.

Patented Aug. v13, 1929.

UNITED STATES v1,724,009 PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO ECKENER, 0F FRIEDRICHSHAFEN-O-THE-BODENSEIEL GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO LUFTSCHIFFBAU ZEPPELIN GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRNKTER HAFTUNG, OF 'FRIEDRICHSHAFEN-ON-THE-BGDENSEE, GERMANY.

RIGID .AIRSHIP WITH SEPARATE GAS CELLS.

Application led November 27, 1922, Serial No. 603,603, and n/GermanytSeptember 18, 1522.

My invention has reference/to air ships, more particularly of the rigid type, with separate gas cells, and it particularly refers to means for preventing destruction of ships of this kind by. fire and lightning. The suggestions heretofore made for the utilization of a non-inflammable carrying gas for air ships were objectionable both on account of the comparative rarity and the resulting high costs of production of such gases, and in view of the increased specific gravity which, for instance in the case of helium, is the double of hydrogen. Nor was it possible to arrive at practical results with the suggestions heretofore made of providing `the air ship with a jacket of nitrogen surrounding the gas cells because the loss of buoyancy incumbent thereon is excessive, aside from the complicated constructionand the high costs of a complete jacketof nitro-.-

'gen or a non-combustible carrying gas.

My invention contemplates the utilization of non-inflammable carrying gases by providing non-infiammable gas of low specific gravity such as helium only at such points of the ship which are particularly exposed to lightning strokes, especially the front or bow portion, and at the sections above the Engines which are particularly liable to take Strokes of lightning, as shown by experience, 'are liable to occur at the ends of the air ship only. At the rear end of the ship the widely projecting portions of the balancing and steering surfaces which are not filled with gas, keep the lightning away from the gas in the hull so that at this point there is no obvious necessity of special protec-A tion by an incombustiblegas. Such gas of low specific gravity should accordingly be applied only at the bow and above the motor gondolas.

Means are also prvided in the practice of my invention for the preyention of losses of the expensive carrying gas caused by expansion due to the outer air pressure While the air ship rises or when the temperature of the gas increases. Such losses of gas can be prevented by a reinforcement of the walls of the particular cells or compartments, thus rendering them capable of withstanding a higher pressure, and further by the provision of special expansion chambers into which the incombustible carrying gas is linfiammable gas.

the ship, by providing a fire-proof insertion or coating above the helium-filled cells with a .View to preventing fluid metal which might be detached from the metal skeleton of the air ship by melting in consequence of Y a stroke of lightning, from perforating the walls of the cells and allowing the gas to escape through the perforations.

Inasmuch as the special protective means employed may be restricted to those sections of the air ship which is particularly exposed to danger, the additional weight resulting therefrom is so small that it does not appreciably interfere with the carrying capacity of the air ship.

An airship embodying my invention is shown diagrammatically by way of exampletin the drawings annexed to this specification and forming part thereof.

Fig. l is a longitudinal section, while Fig. 2' illustrates the bow of the ship on a somewhat enlarged scale.

ln the drawing an air ship of the rigid type is shown with the outer envelop t surrounding the skeleton hull (not shown). The cells Z) are filled with hydrogen gas, while the cells c at the bow of the ship for about a quarter up to about one-fifth of the length of the ship are filled with an incombustible gas of low specific gravity, suchV -as helium. The motor gondolas are indicated at d'. Above these gondolas separate small helium cells'e are arranged, and similar separatephelium cells may also be provided above the passenger-cabins. In the modification shown inFigure 2 the helium cells c are provided with a protective coating f. The three helium cells c communicate by way of openings la, with a collapsible cell g mounted in the interior of the hydrogen cell b. f

My invention has been described with reference to its principal features Without limiting it to the particular forms of embodiment herein shown and described, for alterations and modications of such embodiments may occur Within the spirit of my invention as lthe conditions of utilization will direct, and

Within said latter cell communicating with said former cell and means connected with said latter cell for allowing the escape of inflammable gas therefrom.

2. An airship comprising a motor gondola,

a cell filled with a non-inflammable carrying gas, another cell-filled With inflammable gas, a collapsible cell Within said latter cell communicating Withsaid former cell and a communication between said latter cell and the motor gondola.

3. An airship comprising a plurality of gas cells, a bow cell being filled with a noninflammable carrying gas, other cells with an inflammable gas, the Walls of said bow cell being stronger than those of the other cells.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HUGO ECKENER. 

